Neurofibromatosis (NF), which causes tumors to grow along different nerves and additionally affects the development of non-nervous tissues such as bone and skin, occurs in childhood. The disease, which manifests itself as brown spots on various parts of the body, can cause tumors to form in different areas. The disease, which is treated thanks to developing technological possibilities, has the possibility of recurrence.
Melis, 16-year-old living in Bursa, got rid of hydrocephalus in her brain and tumors in her spinal cord and right shoulder caused by the disease called Neurofibromatosis (NF) 10 years ago with successful operations. Treated by Üsküdar University NPISTANBUL Hospital Brain, Nerve and Spinal Cord Surgeon Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy, Melis' hydrocephalus, which caused growth in her brain, was eliminated by endoscopic surgery. The tumor in the right shoulder of the young girl, whose spinal cord tumor was removed years ago, was removed by surgical methods performed at NPISTANBUL Hospital in recent weeks. Melis, who had a successful operation, regained her health.
A rare hereditary disease
NPISTANBUL Hospital Brain, Nerve and Spinal Cord Surgeon Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy gave information about Neurofibromatosis (NF) disease and explained the treatment phase Melis went through.
Stating that Neurofibromatosis (NF), a group of genetic diseases that cause the growth of tumors along different nerves and additionally affect the development of non-nervous tissues such as bone and skin, manifests itself with tumoral formations in different parts of the body and also causes developmental abnormalities, Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy said.Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy said that the disease is one of the rare diseases that are inherited and not very common. In neurofibromatosis, which has two types, the formation of various tumors in different places as well as learning disorders and bone dysplasia can be seen.
Stating that Melis, who was 6 years old at the time, applied to them with complaints of headache, nausea, vomiting and problems in walking due to enlargement of the brain cavities, Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy said, "Instead of shunting Melis to treat hydrocephalus in her brain at that time, we performed an endoscopic surgical procedure called "endoscopic third ventriculostomy" with the latest technological facilities."
Attention to brown spots
Noting that neurofibromatosis (NF) is an inherited disease that runs in families, Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy said that brown spots that appear in various parts of the body are among the symptoms of the disease. Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy said, "It is usually seen in children. If the child has six or more 1.5 cm or larger (post-puberty) or 0.5 cm or larger (pre-puberty) brown spots on the body, it is very likely to have this disease, this is the most visible feature of the disease. It should not be dismissed as a birthmark and a specialist should be consulted. Pediatricians should recognize this disease from birth. Pediatricians should recognize it and definitely perform scans or refer it to a neurologist or neurosurgeon."
Tumor removed from his shoulder last time
Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy gave the following information about Melis' disease and treatment process:
"Melis had brown spots on her body. When these brown spots are more than 6, there is a disease called Neurofibromatosis. We told the family at that time that this disease may have some problems with some indicators. At the beginning, we took care of the problem with the brain, but then we explained that other problems may arise elsewhere. Hydrocephalus in the brain is actually a condition that accompanies this disease. Later, in addition to hydrocephalus, a mass appeared in the part of the spinal cord towards the coccyx. We operated on that mass. After that mass, a mass originating from the nerve sheath elsewhere in his body appeared in the area above the collarbone on the right. All of the tumors were removed with surgical operations. In addition, since the tumor on his shoulder was in a visible place, we eventually performed cit aesthetic surgery."
Stating that nerve sheath tumors can grow over the sheath of the nerves in Melis' body, as well as other tumors in other parts of her body, Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy said, "After the surgeries, she has no tumors left. But this does not mean that it will not grow again. It can grow in the same place or in another place. Tumors can grow from the sheath of the nerves distributed throughout the body. There are forms of this disease called type 1 and type 2. In some of these forms, tumors grow in the brain. In some, they grow in the arms, legs and other parts of the body. In tumors arising in the brain, there may be tumors arising from the optic nerves, sometimes from the ear, hearing and balance nerves, and there may be problems in their removal after surgery."
Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy noted that since Neurofibromatosis (NF) disease is hereditary, people with the disease should consider the genetic factor when they want to have children and the possibility of the disease occurring in the baby should not be forgotten.
Annual controls should not be interrupted
Stating that neurofibromatosis (NF) patients should be kept under surveillance, Prof. Dr. Kaya Aksoy emphasized that patients should not neglect their regular check-ups and should definitely see their doctors once a year.